OBJECTIVE: Idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is a rare disorder.
This study evaluated the effect of androgen replacement therapy on atherosclerotic risk markers in young-to-middle-aged men with this disorder.
DESIGN AND METHODS: Forty-three male patients aged 30 (range: 24-39 years) who were newly diagnosed with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and 20 age-, sex- and weight-matched controls (range: 26-39 years) were included in the study. Androgen replacement therapy was given according to the Algorithm of Testosterone Therapy in Adult Men with Androgen Deficiency Syndromes (2010). The patients were assessed at a pre-treatment visit and 3 and 6 months after the treatment. Inflammatory markers and lipid parameters were evaluated. Endothelial function was assessed with brachial flow-mediated dilation of a brachial artery and high-resolution ultrasonography of the carotid intima-media thickness.
RESULTS: The carotid intima-media thickness (p < 0.001) was higher and the brachial flow-mediated diameter (p = 0.002) was lower in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism compared to the control subjects at the pre-treatment visit. There was a negative correlation between the total testosterone level and carotid intima-media thickness (r = -0.556, p = < 0.001). The carotid intima media thickness and FMD% were significantly improved in the patient group 6 months after the androgen replacement therapy (p = 0.002 and p = 0.026, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that low total testosterone levels can be considered a significant marker of atherosclerosis in patients with idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and that androgen replacement therapy significantly reduces atherosclerotic risk markers in these patients after 6 months.
Written by:
Doğan BA, Karakılıç E, Tuna MM, Arduç A, Berker D, Güler S. Are you the author?
Darıca Farabi State Hospital, Endocrinology and Metabolism Disease, Kocaeli, Turkey.
Reference: Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2014 Oct 3. Epub ahead of print.
doi: 10.1111/cen.12617
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25280063